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The beneficial properties of steam were known to ancient cultures, long before scientists starting measuring and quantifying them. Throughout history and across the world, people have being using steam to improve their mental and physical health and what we now consider to be the traditional sauna is just one example of how this has been achieved. It’s also a good example of how established practices can be adapted for a modern world. Modern infrared saunas have taken the concept of the sauna and removed the steam for those who want to enjoy a heat treatment in a dry environment. Meanwhile, new technology has been incorporated into the traditional style of sauna to give people the best of both worlds. We’re big fans of the traditional saunas, partly because we love the positive emotional associations they trigger in us and partly because we appreciate everything steam can do for our bodies and our minds. With that in mind, here is a quick guide to buying a traditional sauna.

What’s outside matters as much as what’s inside

As adults we often learn to focus on what’s inside and come to understand the truth of the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”. While this is generally very wise, there are always exceptions to every rule and when it comes to picking a traditional sauna, you should most definitely take a good, long and hard look at what’s outside before you take a decision on whether or not it’s worth looking any further. Here’s what you should be looking at (or for).

The wood

In short, we’d recommend you only look at saunas made of cedar or hemlock. If you want to know the logic behind this, read on.

The wood used for saunas has to meet five basic criteria to be a suitable choice.

It has to be non-toxic in a sauna environment. The wood in a sauna is exposed to heat without being burnt. Just as the heat opens the pores in human skin and aids in the detoxifying process, so it causes wood to expel any toxins which are on or in it. This could be anything from inappropriate chemical treatments to sap (which may sound innocuous but can cause serious burns).

It has to be light. Technically, you can use a heavy wood if you’re building your own sauna, but if you are buying one, the weight of the wood increases transportation costs and hence price.

It has to be able to withstand the changes in temperature, which are integral to a sauna. This is an argument for softwood from trees with minimal sap. There are two reasons for this. The first is that softwood is less influenced by temperature than hardwood. The second is that sap is denser than standard wood, which means it reacts to changes in temperature differently and over time this different behaviour will almost certainly cause structural damage to the wood and therefore to your sauna. Top manufacturers tend to prefer Canadian-grown wood since this comes from trees, which have been continually exposed, to extreme fluctuations in temperature.

It has to be able to withstand impact. You’re going to sit (or lie down on it) and walk on it. If it splits or splinters underneath you, you could be hurt. Also, having a robust floor simply helps to extend the usable life of the sauna.

It has to be workable. This is another argument for soft wood. It’s just easier to manage and that keeps manufacturing costs down and hence prices down.

NB: while there are other woods, which can, in theory, be used for saunas, there are usually very good reasons why these woods are, at best, used in niche markets, for example, even though aspen wood can work very well in saunas it tends to be expensive. More importantly, there are a lot of woods, which may seem like they should work perfectly well in saunas, or even be a great choice for them, but which are actually very poor choices and should be avoided. Pine, for example, is best avoided due to its high sap content and yet if you look around the internet, you will probably find it quite easy to find pine saunas because the cheap price of the wood makes it an attractive choice for certain manufacturers.

The size of the building

Before we get into discussing what makes a good sauna building, we’d just like to take some time out to suggest that you make a point of checking out the actual, stated dimensions of the building rather than going by descriptions such as “for two or three people”. Let’s just say that the manufacturer’s idea of the size of the average person may be rather different from yours.

The quality of the building

Using the right sort of wood is only the start of ensuring that your sauna has a realistic chance of standing up to long-term use. In very simple terms, build quality is paramount.

Your first clear indicator in terms of build quality is the mechanism by which the sauna is held together. Basically, you want either an interlocked connection, such as the invisible full interlocked EZ™ connection (or preferred choice) or a bolt and anchor system, which is robust, but in our opinion something of a pain to put together and a scratch-magnet during the installation process. If you see a sauna held together with the likes of buckles and clips, magnets or side clasp buckles then you should almost certainly move swiftly on to another option since none of these systems provides the level of robustness required for a sauna and all of them are generally a good indication that a manufacturer has been cutting corners during the manufacturing process. Speaking of robustness, you also want thick walls (double walls with a cavity are the perfect choice) and solid, robust floors, ideally raised off the ground for ventilation. We, personally, also consider it a must to use tempered and toughened safety glass for the windows. This point again goes back to the fluctuations in temperature which are integral to a sauna. Glass expands and contracts just like wood, unlike wood, however, it can literally explode under the stress (if you think we’re joking about this, head to YouTube and do a search on something like “glass exploding in freezer” and we’re sure you’ll find plenty of videos to demonstrate the point). This has obvious safety implications, hence the need for safety glass.

While wiring is technically an internal feature, we count it as part of the fabric of the building, so we’ll mention it here. You need safe wiring. This means heavy-duty wiring, with EMF shielding and prevented from coming into direct contact with the wood.

The internal set-up

High quality modern implementations on traditional saunas combine the best of the old with the best of the new. They have comfortable seating, lighting which is both safe and pleasant and safety features such as hygrothermometres, which keep track of both humidity and temperature. The very best of them will also support entertainment options such as music for total relaxation. Traditional saunas are also great places to use aromatherapy oils. The key feature, however, is a solid and reliable heater, without which the sauna effectively becomes a very expensive shed. With this in mind, in addition to looking at the headline KW rating, look for a quality brand of heater. As a final point, picking up on what we said earlier about the right choice of wood, make sure that the inside of your sauna is actually fitted in wood rather than the likes of MDF, which is very affordable but totally unsuitable for the environment inside a sauna.

A reputable supplier

Even though saunas are, in principle, very simple, getting a traditional sauna from a factory to a customer’s doorstep is actually rather more complicated than it sounds. In fact it’s far more complicated than just delivering a shed. It’s also more complicated to replace any parts which are damaged in transit. That being so, it’s definitely recommended to work with a supplier who has a proven track record of delivering high-quality saunas to happy customers. You also want to look for a long-term warranty (here at Poshh, we offer a 2 year electrical warranty together with a 5 year cabin warranty) and a brand which has demonstrated that this warranty actually means something in the real world. Harsh as this may sound, it’s very risky to go with “bright young brands”, particularly if they are offering “budget” saunas for the simple reason that it’s very hard to judge how much expertise they actually have in sauna manufacture and delivery or how able or willing they’ll be to put right any issues. That’s why here at Poshh, we only work with established brands such as SaunaMed and Vidalux, which have been in the business for many years and on whom we can rely to provide excellent customer care as well as to stand by their warranties.

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We have 1000's of luxury items readily available to grace your home with the quality you deserve and transform your living space into the desirable heaven you deserve. Friendly and highly knowledgeable customer service representatives are on hand and ready to answer any queries you may have. Every day we strive to make Poshh the No.1 place to purchase your luxury items, just ask our many thousands of happy customers you can find on Facebook, Twitter and on our onsite reviews to see just why we are trusted by so many, again and again

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How Long For Delivery?

For smaller items delivery is either next day or 48 hours as standardMedium items like tower towers are 2-3 working daysLarge items (showers, sauna and hot tubs) have a 5-7 working day turnaround although many have an express delivery option for 48 hour or even next day delivery

How does the lowest price promise work - The best service and price, there must be a catch?

Nope - there is no catch. We check our prices regularly to ensure we are the best price out there. In the unlikely event you do find it cheaper. We'll not only match it, we'll beat it as a little thank you for alerting us to the price. The price must be a genuine advertised price, viewable to the public and unfortunately, we cannot match verbal agreements/offers or auctions or verbal offers, that's all there is to it. For more information Please see out terms page

What is the policy for returns?

Not happy with a product - No problem. we offer a full 14 days returns policy for non-customised orders. Simply get in touch with us for a returns reference and we'll set it in motion.

What does 'parts warranty' mean?

Where quoted - Many of the items on our site comes with a 'parts warranty'. If any fault occurs, we operate a no quibble warranty system where we will send any required replacement parts to you on a next day delivery service where possible, completely free of charge for a period of your warranty from the date of purchase or installation. (Please retain your original invoice number to validate this) Warranty registration with the relevant manufacturer is necessary in all cases

What warranty do I get?

Like all products from legitimate manufacturers the warranty for them is carried and covered by that manufacturer - The duration of any warranty is advised on the items page. You should in all cases check the manufacturers page for further warranty terms as well as registering any warranty once an item has been received where applicable.

How Do The Large Items Arrive?

LArge items are often supplied in a number of boxes (normally 3-5). All boxes are able to pass through all standard doorways if the item is intended for indoor use. Care and thought should be given to if and how the boxes/contents will navigate stairwells. Often stairwells are narrow and have lower height regions, corners and banisters though the boxes that come will be able to be carried in homes unless there is a very unusual set up.

What Electric Connection Do The Steam Showers Require?

All of our Steam Showers require a single 13amp connection. Whirlpool showers, require 2 x 13amp.The shower should be connected via isolated fused spurs. If your mains board (consumer unit) has RCDs fitted, then REMOVE the ones fitted to the power cables of the shower. Must of our Hydro shower do not require an electrical connection, for those that have lights or radio etc, these units require 1 electrical connection. The hydro showers that do have electronics are transformed down to a safe 12volts.

What Are The Water Pressure Requirements For The Showers?

Our showers require between 1 and 3 bar of pressure at the unit to operate. For optimum results 2-3 bar is recommended. Please note that all Steam Cabins require a flow rate of at least 14-16 litres per minute. The water supply to the unit must also be balanced.

If you have a combi boiler, this typically provides water at a pressure suitable for the shower, but if you are unsure, ask you plumber to check the pressure for you. If you have a Combination (combi) boilder, you WILL need a PEV. (Pressure Equalisation Valve)If you have gravity fed water, or you water pressure is not high enough, then you will need to fit a pump.

How Much Does It Cost to Run The Steam Function?

Based on current costs for electricity to operate the steam function for a recommended maximum of half and hour is around 30 pence. Compare this to the cost of visiting a Sauna in a Health Spa etc.

Why Buy From Us

Every item on our site comes with our absolute unbeatable price promise. We check our prices against all our competitors every week to not just match them, but to ensure we beat them by a good margin.

We not only bring you the best prices, but also the best customer services and industry leading warranties. We've been in the shower and spa business for over 20 years and have come together with only the suppliers that we know to be the best and use our special relationships with them to bring you these exceptional deals.

Award Winning Customer Service

We've commanded recognition over the years in regards to level of customer service we offer, we believe that the purchase of your shower is just the beginning of our obligation to you to give our customers nothing but the very best service and after care.

FSB Selected Business 2010 - Present

We are proud to announce that in early 2010 and till this day we have been specially selected by The FSB (Federation of Small Business) to be a front running member in partnership with us. The FSB is a Government lobbying voice and business representative that has a strong voice in parliament and protects and represents the interests of small business. It is our pleasure to be in active partnership representing businesses across the UK.

Everything In One Price

Most of the items on the site come with FREE delivery included in the price to everywhere in the UK mainland. The price you see on any item is the price you pay, including VAT, there's no hidden extras on checkout or trick pricing. In the unlikely event you find something cheaper, which will not happen, simply let us know and we promise to absolutely smash this price

Delivery Times

All items in stock are available for immediate dispatch. Delivery times from the point of order will be typically 3 to 5 working days or any day of your choosing after this time. For example if you ordered a shower on Monday before 12 o'clock the unit could be delivered to you as soon as that week. If this is too soon for you you can simply have the items delivered in some cases on a exact day of your choosing after these times. Delivery can sometimes in rare cases be up to 6 working days though after ordering someone from our dispatch team will call you to arrange and advise upon a suitable delivery day with you and offer an AM or PM slot along with a phone call from the delivery team 30 mins before there arrival.

Our Delivery Service Includes:

Next Day Express Delivery Available

Courteous delivery personnel

Choice of express delivery either next day or 48hours (extra charge may incur)

Phone call 30 mins before arrival to allow notice to customers needing to leave work

Outside of UK mainland:

Isle of Wight surcharge £ 60+ vat

Scottish Offshore surcharge £60 + VAT

Ireland (all locations) Surcharge £60 + VAT

Very Highlands of Scotlland £25+VAT

WE WILL NEVER BE BEATEN ON PRICE!!!! THAT'S A GUARANTEE

Quite simply, no-one can match our prices. The reason we are so confident? We have a special relationship with our suppliers many dating back over 20 years. Along with this long term relationship comes our unique position in the industry as the leading retailer and our unrivaled buying power.

In the extremely unlikely event you find the shower cheaper anywhere else, we'll not only beat that price by a good margin but also reward you for finding something we've missed!

We have been on the forefront of the steam shower market for years not only in retail but we have been called upon in the design and innovation process along side the manufacturers to be part of the manufacturing and ideas meetings and undertaking. Our extensive knowledge and experience has been called upon when the plans for the 'next generation' of showers are being 'drawn up', this is a reflection of our knowledge and insider information we are ready to pass on to you. We know that no other company out there can command this position and we use this to pass on the very best deals and after care to you!